What is a Burqa?

A burqa is an Islamic garment. The "classic" (Central Asian) burqa is a long robe with false sleeves that covers the entire body, leaving only the face open. The face is usually covered with a chachvan, a thick net made of horsehair that can be raised and lowered.

The burka is similar to the Abaya, but it is a different type of Muslim clothing. The burka is a veil that covers the body and head, with a slit covered with mesh for the eyes. The Muslim bathing suit burkini, banned in France, has nothing to do with the burka. Firstly, the burkini does not cover the woman's face, and secondly, it is a suit, not a veil; its purpose is to hide the outline of the body of the bathing woman.

Other types of Muslim women's clothing that are common include the chador, a light veil, usually dark in color, that covers a woman's entire body from head to toe. The chador itself does not cover the face; an additional piece of fabric or a niqab head covering may be used for this purpose, hiding the woman's hair and face and leaving only a slit for the eyes.

Many types of Muslim head coverings in Europe are called hijabs. This is incorrect, since hijabs are any women's clothing that complies with Sharia law. Such clothing must cover the entire body and hair of a woman; only the face, hands, and legs below the ankles may be left uncovered. This may include a headscarf, a long-sleeved blouse, and a floor-length skirt.

Should all Muslim women wear the burqa?

No. Muslim women must wear a hijab in front of other men - clothing that covers the body and hair (by the way, a burkini suit is required on the beach, since it is essentially a swimming version of the hijab). There are countries where all women are required to wear a hijab, regardless of religion - such a requirement exists in Iran and Saudi Arabia. In secular countries, women do not have such an obligation: for example, in Turkey, until recently, women were even prohibited from appearing in a hijab in government institutions. However, today Turkey has somewhat relaxed this ban; now women can appear in a hijab in a state educational institution.

Does the Quran say anything about hijab?

Yes. The appearance of Muslim women is mainly discussed in two verses of the Koran. One of them (Sura 24, “Light,” verse 31) states that women should “lower their gaze,” “not display their adornment,” and “cover their bosoms with their veils.” It also states that Muslim women cannot “show their beauty” to anyone except relatives and a few close associates who are allowed into the house (for example, servants and children).

Another verse (Surah 33, “The Hosts,” verse 59) also instructs believing women to “draw their veils”: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believing men to draw their veils over themselves (or draw them close) so that they may be recognized (distinguished from slave girls and prostitutes) and will not be subjected to insult. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Why do women wear burqas?

This is not always explained by Islamic norms. Sometimes the requirement to wear clothing that completely conceals the female body is due rather to cultural peculiarities. The burqa is connected with the tradition of female seclusion, which was widespread in the Middle East even before the birth of Islam. The tradition was supported by local moral and ethical norms, an integral part of which were the principles of chastity and spiritual purity. Seclusion was widespread among urban elites, and both Jews and Christians lived according to this tradition, and now some upper castes of Hindus live this way.

With the advent of Islam, the phenomenon acquired religious justifications and spread widely, going beyond the upper classes of society. Muslim norms provided additional legitimization for the burqa and similar types of women's clothing - despite the fact that the requirement to cover the face in front of strange men is not even in strict Islamic norms. "Exceeding" Islamic requirements is precisely evidence of the cultural roots of this clothing.